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ShareBhubaneshwar: Orissa will have to wait till the completion of the assembly elections in Jharkhand for more central forces for long term deployment in Maoist-hit areas in the state, the Centre said today.
"After elections in Jharkhand, we hope to provide additional para-military force to Orissa," Union home secretary GK Pillai told reporters here.
Stating that the Union Home Ministry had some problems due to recent assembly elections in Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh, he said forces were now needed for the polls in Jharkhand.
Orissa, which has four battalions of CRPF for anti-Naxal operations, has demanded seven more for long term deployment.
On the proposed joint anti-Maoist operation in the state on the lines of the one launched in Chhattishgarh, Pillai said the Orissa police has been carrying out operations against them.
"Anti-Maoist operations are a continuous process. The central government will help the states to best of its ability," Pillai said while replying to a question on delay in launching a joint operation in the state.
He, however, did not make it clear whether a joint operation would be launched here.
Asked whether he was satisfied with the state government's anti-Maoist steps, Pillai said "There is always more to be done."
"We have recommended to the Finance Commission to give more grants to the state for anti-Maoist operations."
Though the state had increased its police strength, it could make fresh recruitment for providing jobs to youths and security to the people, he said.
Stating that the Centre had agreed to provide more forces, funds and a helicopter for operations, chief secretary TK Mishra said "We require about eight to nine battalions of central forces for long term deployment. We are not blaming anyone for the delay in getting additional forces."
